KARACHI, Oct 12: The manufacturing output in the city’s four main industrial estates plummeted by 50 per cent as a result of strike observed on Friday against the US bombing on Afghanistan.

Industrialists said 50 per cent of work force failed to turn up at the factory gates as the strike, which was called by Pak- Afghan Defence Council, crippled the movement of public transport.

The situation in three main industrial centres — North Karachi, Site and F.B. Area — became highly tense specially after Juma prayers. More than 50 per cent of plants were forced to close down after Juma prayers due to panic caused by a big rally in Banaras area.

Supplies of finished goods were completely halted as all principal markets of the city like Saddar, Hyderi, Clifton, Defence, Bahadurabad, Jodia Bazar, Marriot Road, Kharadar, Karimabad and Water Pump remained shut.

An industrialist in Site said that violent mob attacked several industries in the morning and pelted stones before the law enforcement agencies could reach the spot to disperse them. Angry mob also attacked a KFC outlet near Habib Bank, causing destruction.

In the last 20 days, it was the second time— a similar strike of almost same intensity struck the city on September 21—that industries suffered massive losses, which is causing delay in meeting export commitments.

The chairman, SITE Association of Industry, Zakariya Usman said around 50 per cent of industrial production in more than 2,500 units had been affected in the area for want of labour.

Member, managing committee, North Karachi Association of Trade and Industry (NKATI), Mehmood A. Rangoonwala said that Friday was considered as the day of shipments for export but only 20-25 per cent of shipments could be made possible, owing to absence of transport. He said that only 50 per cent of work had been reported in the 1,800 industries, out of which 90 per cent were export-oriented.

Vice Chairman, F.B. Area Association of Trade and Industry (FBATI), Farooq Bakali said some industries did manage to roll out finished products in the morning, but failed to continue the production later on. As a result of this, industrial production plunged by 50 per cent.

Many industries in Korangi area failed to run on full capacity as workers failed to turn up.

The Karachi Stock Exchange (KSE), however, did not feel the tremors of a powerful strike as buying by state-run institutions ended the trading on higher side. The KSE-100 share index moved 13.98 points or 1.19 per cent up to close at 1,193.65.

Out of two collectorate of East and West, only East Wharf suffered a decline of 83 per cent in processing of shipping bills for export.

Assistant Collector of Customs, Export Examination, East Wharf, Ghulam Mustafa told Dawn that only 17 shipping bills for exports were handled as compared to average 100 on Fridays (from morning to evening). In week days, as many as 200 shipping documents are handled.

Cargo, carried by transporters, could not reach the Karachi Port and Port Qasim owing to disturbance in many areas, which forced transporters and trawler owners to stay away from the roads.

An official in Export Examination, West Wharf, said it handled 125 shipping documents as compared to 150 on Fridays. In normal days, 300-350 documents are handled.

At the new Subzi Mandi on Super Highway, a 90 per cent decline was seen in arrival of vegetables and fruits trucks from the upcountry and interior Sindh.

The chairman, Falahi Anjuman Wholesale Vegetable Market, Super Highway, Haji Shahjehan said only 35-40 trucks, carrying 15 tons of perishable items each, arrived on Friday as compared to daily arrival of 350-400 trucks. Only 20 per cent of the market was opened and dealers were desperately looking for buyers.

Kerb market remained closed on Friday but in the inter-bank market, the rupee-dollar parity was unchanged at Rs 62.10/62.15 for buying and selling respectively.